His Dangerous Love On Ice Chapter 168: Olive's Pov

My phone buzzed again and my hands were already shaking when I opened the message, some part of me knowing before I even looked that this wasn't going to be good.

Unknown: I'm watching you, Olive. Right now. Blue apartment building. Beautiful place, by the way. Third floor. Window on the left. You should close your curtains.

Ice flooded my entire body and I looked up at my window, the curtains were wide open, had been open this whole time while I'd been sitting here on my couch researching my dead brother, which meant someone out there could see me right now, could see exactly what I was doing and where I was sitting and what I was reading, and they wanted me to know they were watching.

I jumped up and ran to the window, yanking the curtains closed so violently I almost ripped them straight off the rod, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I could the sound thudding in my ears, could feel it in my throat, and my entire body wouldn't stop shaking because someone was out there right now watching my apartment and they'd just proven they could see me whenever they wanted.

I grabbed my keys and my phone and my bag without even thinking about it, just moving on pure instinct because I couldn't stay here, couldn't sit in this apartment knowing someone was watching me through the windows, knowing they could probably see every room if they wanted to, and I needed to get somewhere safe, somewhere with actual security, somewhere they couldn't reach me.

And there was only one place I could think of that fit that description.

I pulled up my texts with Zane, my fingers trembling so badly.

But then I froze, my thumb hovering over his name.

I wasn't ready to tell Zane about Klaus. Wasn't ready to admit I'd been digging into my brother's death and discovered it wasn't an accident.

But I knew it was risky not telling him, dangerous even, because whoever was threatening me clearly didn't want me looking into this.

And without thinking it through, without considering all the reasons this was a terrible idea, I brought up a different contact.

Paloma.

The stranger who'd somehow slipped into my life and made me feel like I could trust her even though I barely knew her.

But she was the best bet, someone who wouldn’t ask too many questions.

I dialed her number, each ring making my heart shake as I kept staring back at the window like someone was going to break through it at any second.

The call didn't go through, just rang and rang before going to voicemail.

I tried again, my heart beating so hard.

But the number didn't go through again, going straight to voicemail this time.

"Fuck," I muttered, and Zane's face flashed through my head, those blue eyes that would probably tell me I was making a mistake if he could see me right now.

But I chose to ignore the warning in my imagination.

I was too vulnerable to go see him right now, too raw and confused and scared, and I knew if I showed up at his penthouse he'd take one look at me and know something was wrong and then he'd push until I told him everything and I wasn't ready for that conversation yet.

I contemplated calling Brenda instead. She would ask questions, but I could give her what I needed to without telling her the whole truth.

But I couldn't bear bringing her into this mess, couldn't risk putting her in danger too.

And just as I was about to dial Brenda's number anyway because I was that desperate, my phone rang and the name showing on my screen made my brows furrow in confusion.

And then my heart skipped.

Annie Monroe.